University of Bergen

The University of Bergen is a renowned educational and research institution, organised into seven faculties and approximately 54 institutes and academic centres. Campus is located in the centre of Bergen with university areas at Nygårdshøyden, Haukeland, Marineholmen, Møllendalsveien and Årstad. 

University Museum of Bergen - read more here 

Associate professor position in osteology

There is a vacancy for a permanent position as associate professor within osteology or zooarchaeology at the University Museum of Bergen, Department of Natural History. The department has the scientific and curatorial responsibility for botany, geology and zoology at the museum. Currently there are 15 scientific and 38 technical and administrative staff at the department, including the botanic gardens.

Work tasks/research field:

We are seeking a productive and innovative academic who will be a dedicated researcher within the field of osteology and faunal history. The successful applicant has an excellent track record in osteology and vertebrate morphology, and is conducting research on osteology, vertebrate zoology, faunal history, paleoecology or zooarchaeology. We emphasize competence in stable isotope analysis, ZooMS and/or ancient DNA and the application of these methods in research on modern as well as sub-fossil skeletal material. The successful applicant is expected to submit both internal and external grant applications.

The position includes curatorial responsibility for our scientific collections of subfossil bones, and we hope to recruit an osteologist with experience from curation of collections and other museum work and with a sincere dedication to collection development.

The University Museum of Bergen holds important osteological collections; a national collection of ca 3 million sub-fossil faunal remains covering the last glacial up until the post-medieval period, a collection of prehistoric and medieval human bone remains, and a collection of ca 15000 modern vertebrate specimens (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals). The sub-fossil collections are mainly the result of more than 100 years of collaboration with archeologists. The University Museum of Bergen has a regional responsibility according to the Cultural Heritage Act, which includes conducting archaeological excavations. Collaboration with the Department of Cultural History at the University Museum will be important, and the successful candidate will be in charge of securing bone remains from the excavations.

The successful candidate is expected to further develop the museum’s osteological collections through their own research, continued involvement in the University Museum’s excavations, through national and international cooperation, as well as digitization. The candidate is also expected to contribute to a further development of scientific collaboration within palaeobiology and between the palaeobiological and archeological research environments at the University Museum. The employee will be encouraged to teach and supervise within their area of expertise.

The selected candidate will also take part in the production of exhibitions and other outreach activities at the museum.

Qualifications and personal qualities:

• Applicants must have a doctoral degree in osteology or zooarchaeology or equivalent qualifications
• Research in osteology or zooarchaeology beyond the PhD level is required: Projects and publications during the last five years are given particular attention
• Experience with stable isotope analysis, ZooMS, or ancient DNA (aDNA) is preferred
• Curatorial experience and experience working with museum collections will count positively
• Knowledge of archaeology is an advantage
• Proficiency in a Scandinavian language is important in order to read and write documentation about the collections and will therefore count positively
• Basic pedagogical training is a requirement for the position. The successful applicant will be offered training if this requirement is not met prior to employment
• Well-developed research and museum collection networks will count positively
• A track record of applying for and acquiring research grants will be an advantage
• Well-developed social skills and an intention to actively contribute to the palaeobiological research group

The teaching language will normally be Norwegian. The successful applicant will be required to teach in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language within three years of being appointed.

We can offer:

• A good and professionally challenging working environment
• Position as associate professor (code 1011) with annual salary of NOK 708 000 - 759 100 before taxes. A higher salary may be considered for a particularly well qualified applicant
• A position in an inclusive workplace “IA enterprise”
• Enrollment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Good welfare benefits

Your application must include:

• A brief cover letter expressing your research interest, priorities and future plans for research projects
• CV
• Diplomas
• Name and contact information for two references
• Complete list of publications
• List with appendices that document your pedagogical qualifications
• List of up to 10 academic works that the applicant believes should be taken into consideration in the assessment

The application and appendices with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be uploaded at JobbNorge.

General information:

Detailed information about the position can be obtained by contacting: 

• Associate Professor Hanneke Meijer (email: hanneke.meijer@uib.no - phone +47 55 58 29 18) or
•  Head of Department Jenny Smedmark (email: jenny.smedmark@uib.no - phone. +47 55 58 33 51)

The state labour force shall reflect the diversity of Norwegian society to the greatest extent possible. People with immigrant backgrounds and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply for the position.

We encourage women to apply. If multiple applicants have approximately equivalent qualifications, the rules pertaining to moderate gender quotas shall apply.

The University of Bergen applies the principle of public access to information when recruiting staff for academic positions.

Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant has asked not to be named on the list of persons who have applied. The applicant must be notified if the request to be omitted is not met.

UiB is subject to the regulations for export control and the regulations can be applied when processing applications for the position.

For further information about the recruitment process, click here.

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